According to the NSWMA's public cleansing officer for the western region, Oraldo Anderson, Hanover leads the way in the new campaign. The NSWMA Western Region is made up of Trelawny, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland.

"In the Sandy Bay division, communities such as Jericho, Claremont, Mosquito Cove, Montpelier, Sandy Bay, Elgin Town and Point, a total of 69 derelict vehicles were removed. In the Lucea, Hopewell, Chester Castle, Ramble, Knockalva and Haughton Grove areas, all derelict vehicles which were visible were also removed," he stated.

Anderson made the disclosure while tabling a report at the monthly meeting of the Hanover Parish Council, at the Council Chambers, Lucea, last Thursday. He said the NSWMA would step up its drive until the nuisance has been eradicated.

With respect to other environmental matters, the NSWMA regional officer told the council that his agency will also be pursuing persons or organisations responsible for cleaning drains and leaving the refuse at the side of roadways.

Drain cleaning

"It has been noticed that, in the past, whenever a contract is given for drain cleaning, whatever waste comes from the drain is placed on the sidewalk," said Anderson. "This is a practice of the past. It will not be tolerated in the future and we will be issuing removal notices and where those notices are not honoured, prosecution will be done."He pointed out to councillors that the Public Cleansing Act of 2001, under which the prosecutions will take place, allows for both an offender and the person awarding the contract to the offender to be prosecuted. He pleaded for the support of the parish council in ensuring that its contractors dispose waste properly.